Page 17 of Drive Me Wild
“He’s a natural.”
“Just like you were.”
“Yeah. I’m going to head out. I’ll see you Thursday, okay?”
“Sounds good, son.”
Buzz claps me on my back, and I head out the door and to my truck. There’s a couple of boys standing nearby checking it out.
“Cool truck, man.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you Caleb Barone?”
“Yeah, why do you ask?”
“Is it true that you ripped doughnuts across the football field in your car after homecoming?”
“That was a long time ago, guys.”
“Woah. That’s badass.”
“And I got in a lot of trouble for it.”
“Still. You’re a legend.”
I open the door to the truck and lean against it, trying to find the right words. How is it that I’m suddenly a voice of reason? Can I really do this? I swallow my concerns and blurt out the best advice I have.
“Being a legend for the wrong reasons is stupid, guys. Do yourselves a favor, and don’t be like me. The people who are my age who are doing legendary shit now? They studied hard and applied themselves. I’m just a guy who works on cars.”
“Yeah, but you’re the guy who works on all the winning cars at Stratton Speedway, right?”
This kid knows way too much about me.
“What’s your name?”
“Nathan Treadwell.”
“You’re Mrs. Treadwell’s kid?”
He grimaces. “Yeah. Sucks to be me.”
“Look, trust me on this. Don’t fuck up like I did. Do the work, graduate, and become someone who makes a difference.”
“Yeah, alright, man.”
They slink off as I slide behind the wheel. I just gave my first ‘responsible adult’ talk, and I think I blew it.
Can’t I think of something more inspiring to say than stay in school and study hard?
Chapter Nine: Zoe
I’m almost back to my new apartment when I remember that Serena said she keeps daily office hours, so I flip the car around and head back to town.
All day, I’ve been thinking about the books in the library and where they’ll go while the town figures out what to do about the termite situation. I know it’s a weird thing to obsess about, but books are sort of my thing.
I find a spot in front of town hall. It isn’t big, but it’s in a pretty, well-kept, nineteen-twenties-style building with two hanging flower baskets and a bench out front.
